Job Discussion Forums

[woof]

Are there countries a prudent American would be wise to avoid right now? (During the Vietnam War some people considered it safer to say they were Canadian.)

[stillnosheep]

I wouldn't fancy Iraq much at the moment if I were an independent US traveller...

Americans the worldover are already claiming to be Canadian and/or covering their back(packs) with the Canadian flag.

[expatben]

Remindes me of an American I knew in France. He told me the last time he was there was 2003 when the war started and he had endure people comming up to him asking how his country could do this...as if he personally declared war!

[angrysoba]

[expatben]

I think its unfair...other nations do bad things but its only the American people who suffer because of what their government does. I agree though, the French complaining about the US government is rich...

[ls650]

It's my observation that as an American, you'll catch far more grief from your English-speaking co-workers than from any of the locals.

[tedkarma]

I think there is always a bit of anti-Americanism (even before the Iraq problem) from our European relatives.

The most pro-American place I have ever been (and lived) was Taiwan.

The most anti-American place was Korea.

I don't know that there is specifically anywhere you need to avoid - except maybe the Maoist rebels in Nepal . . .

[Cdaniels]

The native Poles I've met have been surprisingly pro-American, and the Polish government is very supportive of the US.

I'm sure someone will make a joke out of that

[bhog]

As someone who hasn't lived abroad before, and considering S. Korea, I'm curious as to how often one has to deal with this? Daily? Are a large percentage of S. Koreans openly hostile? I'm assuming it's pretty prevalant if people from the US feel the need to pack a Canadian flag before they go.

[Guy Courchesne]

You might pick a different flag for S. Korea. Canadians have been getting a sour rap there the last little while.

God Save the Queen?

[Justin Trullinger]

I'm American, and have been abroad for most of the last ten years.

I was in Europe in 2003 for a lot of the Anti-War in Iraq demonstrations and sentiments...

I'm in South America now, where the grassroots level of society is pretty thoroughly mobilized against Free Trade Agreements with the US...

But the funny thing is- many of the people I meet are at some level opposed to US political and economic policies. (Me too, come to think of it.) But I have very rarely met people who took it to the personal level. Many want to hear my opinion on things, or what I think most people in the US think (about which I have no clue, I've been gone to long.) But I have rarely felt that people hold me personally responsible, or think less of me because I come from a country they view as a troublemaker on the international scene.

You get the occasional wierdo. There's one who lives in my neighborhood that, when drunk, has an unfortunate habit of running around shouting "Gringos Hijos de la Gran Puta!" But he doesn't do anything but shout, and other neighbors are apologetic and embarrassed by him, recognising him as a crazy, smelly old drunk, which he is. In Barcelona, shortly after the 9-11 tragedy, a guy once came up to me in a market, asked politely if I was American, and when I said yes, he shouted "Bin Laden! Bin Laden! Boogaboogaboogabooga!" and made "scary ghost" type hand gestures. I was somewhat bewildered and bemused, but again, you get the occasional crazy *BEEP* all over...

Justin

[Jizzo T. Clown]

[Justin Trullinger]

The Brits may be the worst about it, but they're the best at it!

I loved my time in Britain- never laughed so hard!

[stillnosheep]

[Chasgul]

IIRC The Japanese are unlikely to forget certain incidents involving US marines.

The South Koreans are upset that they are trying to talk some sense into their northern cousins and the USA simply is not helping as far as they are concerned.